“This rule has never been implemented in any North American leagues … and it’s only been experimented with at a few youth USA Hockey select festivals, and so I don’t think it’s been thoroughly researched,” said Frank Serratore, head coach of Air Force.

The controversial rule proposal that would call icing even when a team is shorthanded, has been pulled, according to the NCAA.

However, the rule will be experimented with during exhibition games.

The rule proposal, part of a complete package put forth by the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee, was met with fierce opposition when it was announced, leading to the idea being revisited.

All rules have to be formally approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Oversight Panel.

Sanity prevails in the NCAA for once, and at least for a little while anyhow. Exhibition games played at the NCAA level should be interesting affairs at the very least. Team USA’s World Junior Championship team generally plays a handful of exhibition games against NCAA teams each year and checking out what should be a relatively stacked USA team playing warm-up games for the World Junior Championships in late December in Buffalo might prove to be interesting. Having them lineup with older college teams and testing out how a seemingly crappy rule is implemented with better-than-normal talent could turn the games into long, drawn out and frustrating affairs.

If you do happen to catch any NCAA exhibition games, bring a hard hat. The NCAA doesn’t have a penalty for delay of game if the puck goes over the glass. Guess where that puck is going if teams can’t ice it. Souvenirs for everyone!